American Government
Can some history teacher out there fill me in? Yesterday at work, we played "Jay-walking" where we asked a group of 7th-8th graders random questions to see what they knew, and then we gave them prizes if they were correct.
Some of the questions were pretty easy (they got these correct):
"How many dimes in a dollar?"
"What is the 6th book of the Harry Potter series?"
"What time is your alarm set if it takes you 70 minutes to get ready and you leave at 9am?"
"What does W stand for in the current president's name?" They guessed Washington first, but did get it right eventually
Questions they got wrong:
"Who is Viggo Mortensen?" (I'm not sure if they SHOULD know this or not, but their answers were hilarious) Responses: an artist, a marine biologist, a famous sculptor?
"How many senators does each state have?"
"Name either senator in MO." (these kids live in MO)
"Who is the Governer of MO?"
So my question to the history teachers out there is - don't these kids take a government class sometime in middle school where they learned this stuff?
Submitted by
nickbatts at 4/29/2008 9:31:36 AM- Also, let's see if YOU can answer a simple question:
-What does TMan really, really, really, really need...more than just about anything else?
Submitted by
Sarah at 4/29/2008 9:39:07 AM- I was only asking the government questions to history teachers... not the others.
I know what he WANTS. I hear that one of the benefits is being able to play against nickbatts online. Maybe when you retire next year, you could give him one so he can entertain you all day.
Submitted by
nickbatts at 4/29/2008 10:08:24 AM- Sorry, incorrect. He NEEDS a ps3.
Submitted by
nickbatts at 4/29/2008 11:17:22 AM- Also, George Washington Bush is paying for it anyway.
Submitted by
tman at 4/29/2008 1:05:52 PM- I can play NHL 2k7 against bjones as well. So thats a win-win-win.
Submitted by
Jamie B. at 4/29/2008 2:51:51 PM- This shouldn't fall on the government teachers' backs. I teach my kids alot of things that they don't remember later because they don't care.
-Senators/governor questions should be taught in JH constitution studies. Possibly 'Walker,' too, but that's pretty irrelevant.
-Dimes in a dollar, 70 minutes are math questions, so no, they wouldn't learn those in government.
-Potter and Viggo shouldn't really be taught in any class.
I will personally guarantee you that at least 85% of 7th graders at CES can name you both Illinois Senators.